'17 CT ATH CJ Holmes (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[ResLife Hero]

https://notredame.247sports.com/Art...B-CJ-Holmes-play-vs-UNC-on-Saturday-108398483

Freshman running back CJ Holmes took hold of the Notre Dame snapchat story on Tuesday and posted an interesting video following practice, and had this to say.

"What up Irish nation. This is CJ Holmes, 2017, checking in. You might see me on the field this weekend, man. Check in, man. No. 16. We're going to do some big things for you all this week."

So, could Kelly actually burn Holmes' redshirt and put him on the field? Irish247 sources have informed us that it's a "high probability" that the former four-star recruit out of Cheshire (Conn.) Academy sees the field this Saturday if all goes well for Notre Dame.

I'd really prefer we preserve the eligibility unless we absolutely need him.

 

[BoredIrish]

https://notredame.247sports.com/Art...B-CJ-Holmes-play-vs-UNC-on-Saturday-108398483



I'd really prefer we preserve the eligibility unless we absolutely need him.

I think the whole notion of preserving a year of eligibility is a bit over-rated. Not every kid is going to be interested in grad school anyways. In this age of kids leaving as juniors, I think it is alot to expect them to spend 5 years in school.

Furthermore now that ND has starting accepting grad transfers, the need to preserve eligibility is reduced even further.

 

[IrishLion]

Well, TJJr might be concussed, Josh has a knee issue, and Dex may or may not be dealing with a nagging injury.

With all that up in the air, it makes sense that the staff is looking for options beyond McIntosh, because you can't ask him to take 15+ carries in the second half without spelling him, and you definitely can't ask him to take 20+ carries if he's the only truly healthy option in the first half.

You also have to account for the fact that whoever starts at QB isn't going to be running the ball, so RB carries will be up regardless. If it's Wimbush, they aren't going to call designed runs, probably. If it's Book, you aren't going to let him run and risk another QB injury.

 

[NDdomer2]

https://notredame.247sports.com/Art...B-CJ-Holmes-play-vs-UNC-on-Saturday-108398483



I'd really prefer we preserve the eligibility unless we absolutely need him.

generally i fall on the side of preserve the eligibility, but RB is somewhat a different beast in that regard. We seem to be pretty banged up at the position and if we could go Holmes and McIntosh this week then fine by me.

 

[JohnnyJasper]

As much as I'd love to see CJ representing CT out there Saturday, I'd much rather keep the RS on him. If the big three aren't entirely healthy, maybe it makes sense to get him out there though. I think Josh is honestly good for 10 carries. TJJr is probably the least likely to play. I saw Dex on the ND snapchat fully dressed practicing yesterday, so I'm assuming he's good to go. I'm sure we'll find out more today.


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[ResLife Hero]

generally i fall on the side of preserve the eligibility, but RB is somewhat a different beast in that regard. We seem to be pretty banged up at the position and if we could go Holmes and McIntosh this week then fine by me.

The article says we'll have all the RBs cleared to play this weekend, but I'm sure those guys could use some rest and healing time. I agree with RBs not generally being 5 year players given the position's toll, and I doubt CJ would play 4 more years there. My bigger thing is that I'd rather preserve the tread on his tires and get him a year in the strength program post-injury in an ideal world to make sure the shoulder doesn't become a recurring thing.

 

[STLDomer]

If Holmes is as good as advertised, considering the landscape of RBs and the NFL, he won’t be here for 5 years anyways.

 

[CIrishWin]

Not getting this move if he play we are 4 deep this year.

 

[STLDomer]

Not getting this move if he play we are 4 deep this year.

We were 1 deep during the Miami (OH) game.

 

[Rocket 94]

As much as I'd love to see CJ representing CT out there Saturday, I'd much rather keep the RS on him. If the big three aren't entirely healthy, maybe it makes sense to get him out there though. I think Josh is honestly good for 10 carries. TJJr is probably the least likely to play. I saw Dex on the ND snapchat fully dressed practicing yesterday, so I'm assuming he's good to go. I'm sure we'll find out more today.


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No need to redshirt as you have 2 backs coming in next year in Stepp and Smith. With Holmes you would have 3 backs with freshman eligibility and that seems to be too much. This spreads out the eligibility a bit too. I think you let Holmes play if he is ok with it.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

No need to redshirt as you have 2 backs coming in next year in Stepp and Smith. With Holmes you would have 3 backs with freshman eligibility and that seems to be too much. This spreads out the eligibility a bit too. I think you let Holmes play if he is ok with it.

Agreed and I also trust the coaches to make the right call. We should be able to pull some good RBs moving forward with this type of production out of our backfield. If you are a RB, why wouldn't you go to a school that offers you massive exposure, a great OL and a quality education?

I think the production this year will make future RBs take notice.

 

[CIrishWin]

We were 1 deep during the Miami (OH) game.

Reports that everybody else is a go. Of course if we have no health backs he has to play same way BW had to play his FR year.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Wasn't able to check the game...

How'd CJ do in the eye-test department? Potential?

 

[koonja]

Wasn't able to check the game...

How'd CJ do in the eye-test department? Potential?

I thought he ran tough but looks slooowwww. Like a poor man's Josh Adams. He'll hold the fort down until Stepp gets here. That's my initial reaction.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I thought he ran tough but looks slooowwww. Like a poor man's Josh Adams. He'll hold the fort down until Stepp gets here. That's my initial reaction.

Lol.

So, you are already slating a HS guy over him, after watching him play in a situation that...1) was designed to run out the clock, not get monster plays 2) majority of the carries were with backup OL 3) was playing on a wet track & 4) literally his only job was to get 3-4 yards and not fumble.

Got it. Another hot take.

In reality, it was a really good first showing, where he was patient at times and showed good burst given the situation. Excited to see him continue to get reps.

 

[koonja]

Lol.

So, you are already slating a HS guy over him, after watching him play in a situation that...1) was designed to run out the clock, not get monster plays 2) majority of the carries were with backup OL 3) was playing on a wet track & 4) literally his only job was to get 3-4 yards and not fumble.

Got it. Another hot take.

In reality, it was a really good first showing, where he was patient at times and showed good burst given the situation. Excited to see him continue to get reps.

It's my initial impression on a small sample size. Who knows what will happen. But I definitely didn't see the burst you saw.

 

[Rizzophil]

I’m sure he was nervous as heck too

Two weeks ago he was on scout team

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I thought he ran tough but looks slooowwww. Like a poor man's Josh Adams. He'll hold the fort down until Stepp gets here. That's my initial reaction.

To be fair, i think most of us would've said the same about McIntosh in his first appearance. Then UNC happened. I'm not going to anoint him but he looked vastly improved.

And Holmes is a true frosh.

 

[Ndaccountant]

It's my initial impression on a small sample size. Who knows what will happen. But I definitely didn't see the burst you saw.

He had like 2 plays to show anything, due to blocking and conditions. The first one they ran a pulling OL and he, smartly, waited for him to clear the way and accelerated through the hole for a first down. Probably a 12 yard run if memory serves. Then, he had a off tackle run out of the shot gun on a 3rd and long (7 IIRC) and Kmet had a pretty poor block. Didn't matter, CJ out raced him to the outside and beat a S, untouched mind you, to the sticks for a first down. Given the rain and blocking, it was a really nice run.

 

[BobbyMac]

He's got burst.

On his first carry, he got outside and cut it up field in a Dex like manner. Second carry he found a seam off left tackle and was gone for 7-8 yards and a first down.

 

[Luckylucci]

He had like 2 plays to show anything, due to blocking and conditions. The first one they ran a pulling OL and he, smartly, waited for him to clear the way and accelerated through the hole for a first down. Probably a 12 yard run if memory serves. Then, he had a off tackle run out of the shot gun on a 3rd and long (7 IIRC) and Kmet had a pretty poor block. Didn't matter, CJ out raced him to the outside and beat a S, untouched mind you, to the sticks for a first down. Given the rain and blocking, it was a really nice run.

Yea, I was impressed. That 12 yard run was a thing of perfection, looked like Leveon Bell out there, picking his way through traffic, lol. Looking slow is what someone comes up when they don't realize what is actually happening.

 

[koonja]

Lol. Ok he's fast. My bad. Hope he kills it here!

 

[Domina Nostra]

I thought just the opposite. I though he looked pretty darn fast and aggressive. Kind of like Cierre Wood during the 2010 period when he was running with attitude.

 

[irishog77]

I formed no opinion of him.

He is a true freshman. It was a tiny sample size, against an inferior opponent, with the game decided.

He may be the next Ricky Williams...or he may be just one of the other thousands of other RB's who have played college football.

 

[BGIF]

I thought he ran tough but looks slooowwww. Like a poor man's Josh Adams. He'll hold the fort down until Stepp gets here. That's my initial reaction.

It's my initial impression on a small sample size. Who knows what will happen. But I definitely didn't see the burst you saw.

Speed critique from the self-professed "I can't evaluate film" guy.


Stepp may be the second coming ... but he's still playing against 16-18 year old high school boys most of whom are in their last years of football.

Holmes is playing against 19-22 men who already have Div 1 scholarships and have been developing in the weight room and working on technique against other Div 1 scholarship holders on the Div 1 gridiron for several years.

I hope to see more of Mr. Holmes.

 

[jspags10pg]

Here are CJ's carries. Looks good to me. Especially for his first live game action.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KDEsvSCC2kA?start=9068" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Rocket89]

I thought he ran tough but looks slooowwww. Like a poor man's Josh Adams. He'll hold the fort down until Stepp gets here. That's my initial reaction.

I bet Stepp shows up and is in a race with Jones as the slowest back on the team.

 

[koonja]

I bet Stepp shows up and is in a race with Jones as the slowest back on the team.

Maybe. Tony Jones Jr has been really disappointing given how much he was hyped. Some had him as a top 10 player on the team.

People are making way too big of a deal about me saying Holmes looked slow. The OP asked what people thought. I have no idea how fast Holmes is expected to be.

Is he supposed to be a burner? Isn't he the recruit that withheld his 40 time at the opening because he ran poorly?

I thought he looked slow on 2 carries. Obviously that's not enough of a sample to predict how he'll do, but that's my first impression.

Athleticism is usually pretty apparent, even in a few plays. You don't need to see a fully game of Duke Johnson highlights to realize he's got a different gear.

And you don't need to be a burner to be a great RB. Cutting, finding the hole, and falling forward are a lot more important.

 

[DONTH8]

Maybe. Tony Jones Jr has been really disappointing given how much he was hyped. Some had him as a top 10 player on the team.

People are making way too big of a deal about me saying Holmes looked slow. The OP asked what people thought. I have no idea how fast Holmes is expected to be.

Is he supposed to be a burner? Isn't he the recruit that withheld his 40 time at the opening because he ran poorly?

I thought he looked slow on 2 carries. Obviously that's not enough of a sample to predict how he'll do, but that's my first impression.

Athleticism is usually pretty apparent, even in a few plays. You don't need to see a fully game of Duke Johnson highlights to realize he's got a different gear.

And you don't need to be a burner to be a great RB. Cutting, finding the hole, and falling forward are a lot more important.

I have to admit, I had him in my top 10. The media and hype got to me. But he has been pretty lack luster so far.

And Holmes I didn't think was extraordinarily fast. He was playing in some rough conditions and for the first time so I wont make any judgments yet. But I don't think Koon is wrong in saying he wasnt anything special on saturday, doesnt mean the kid isn't or work be any good.

 

[Fbolt]

Falling forward you say..? I can do that. May have to find myself a camp this summer.